Taken from the FOREWORD:

In the process of compiling the material for BLACK GENESIS (Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1978) it became apparent that one specific form of genealogical research was necessary in reconstructing the ancestry of blacks in the United States. That specific form is collecting and collating every scrap of material which can be found on all the blacks in a defined geographical area. While this type of research has been used to some extent for other groups (see J .S. Fulthy and G. Cope, HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PA. Philadelphia: Louis and Everts, 1881), it is one which must be developed and used for many areas if the ancestral beginnings of blacks in the colonies are to be found.

Brown and Rose's work on Southeastern Connecticut is, for that reason, a milestone in black genealogical research. The result of the more than eight years of research is presented in this volume. Their systematic approach in recovering and utilizing appropriate records is one which can be adapted to a number of geographical areas, particularly colonial ports. While the types of records available from region to region may differ, the same procedures can easily be applied to other areas.

In the introduction which follows, their procedure is outlined with examples of problems likely to be uncovered. The thoroughness with which this material was researched and edited makes it quite probable that blacks who have reason to believe their ancestors are from this important trading center will find their roots in these pages. It is hoped that other research teams will be motivated by the wealth of information on these pages and use the research procedure to develop similar indexes for other areas. Then perhaps we can speak more realistically about the search for black roots in America.

Alice Eichholz, Ph.D.

Queens College

Citation: Brown, B. W. & Rose, J. M. (1980). Black roots in southeastern Connecticut, 1650-1900. Gale Research Co.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

LC : 80010963

ISBN : 0810314118

OCLC : (OCoLC)ocm06042910